01 / About us
BLACKFILE is an international team specialising in due diligence, investigations and risk management. We establish and verify facts about people, companies, business relationships and assets to support decisions with significant consequences.
A company may be registered in one country, its director may work in another, and related assets may be held elsewhere. We examine these circumstances together: business history, ownership, disputes, asset interests and the connections between the parties.
The value of the work lies in understanding what the available information supports. Our findings show what is established, where an assessment remains uncertain and which questions need further investigation. Depending on the matter, the result may include a chronology, a map of connections or an asset register, together with possible next steps for the client and their advisers.
02 / Working principles
Every engagement begins with the decision the client needs to make and the facts required to support it. The question determines the scope of the research.
Findings follow the evidence. When the facts contradict the preferred account, the report presents the facts. We do not accept instructions to produce a predetermined conclusion.
Gaps, conflicting information and limits on access are made explicit. An unresolved question remains open until there is a sufficient basis for a conclusion.
03 / Who we help
Checks on counterparties, partners and investment opportunities before a transaction or commitment. The work examines relevant business history, ownership, connections and risks affecting the decision.
Asset and debtor tracing where a legitimate interest is established. Research brings together ownership information, related parties and jurisdictional context for further legal assessment.
Verified factual research for disputes and other formal procedures. Chronologies, connections and supporting sources help the legal team assess the available information and determine the appropriate legal position.
Research for matters with a lawful family, inheritance or other legitimate basis. People tracing and sensitive private enquiries are assessed individually, including the purpose of the request and the applicable legal boundaries.
04 / Working standards
05 / Roles and responsibilities
06 / How we approach a matter
Start with a general description of the situation, the countries involved and the decision you are preparing to make. Sensitive documents are not needed for this first discussion.
We assess the lawful purpose, possible conflicts of interest and whether the available sources can realistically answer the question. The scope, stages, indicative timeframes, fees, additional expenses and deliverable format are agreed before work begins.
Research is coordinated across the relevant countries. A finding in one jurisdiction may raise a question in another. Any expansion of scope, associated costs or changes to timeframes is discussed separately.
The final report is organised around the agreed questions. It brings together established facts, significant connections, contradictions, research limitations and matters requiring further work. Possible next steps may include requesting documents, revisiting transaction terms or discussing legal action with local counsel.
The outcome depends on what can be established from lawfully accessible sources. An analytical report does not establish guilt or guarantee that a person or asset will be found, that a debt will be recovered, or that assets will be returned.
Start working with BLACKFILE
Start with a general description of your matter. Sensitive documents can follow after the initial assessment and agreement on a suitable channel.